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T O P I C R E V I E W

Rick Boos

Sad note.On Sunday Aug.6th Atlas Pad #13's Gantry is scheduled to be toppled. One by one each gantry and or erector has met their fate. Only pad #36's Gantry still stands. Soon the once impresive ICBM Row of the Cape will be no longer exist. Thank God for photos and memories!

Ben

Wow, I'm a bit surprised, yet not surprised all at once. This is unexpected.

The only reason it stands today is because it was accidentally placed on the historical register in the late 70s when they created that list.

But at the same time, it is the only original gantry still standing. So despite it not having hosted any manned missions, it was a landmark to the old days.

I visited it last year. They no longer allow you to walk under it, since pieces fall off every day; it has taken a lot from hurricanes and the salty air.

Can anyone manage to salvage pieces :-)

Rick, is there any word on when they are toppling 36? That was supposed to be done "later this year" when they spoke about it in February after ac206.

I haven't heard the date for #36 but can check into it. One thing about #13, the gantry that now stands there was not the original one. The original one was the old style "A frame" flat top type, the style like was used on pads #11, 12, and #14 before modifications. It was tore down years ago and replaced with the present newer style roll back gantry for Atlas Agena launches. I have photos of the original.Will send you scans if interested, please let me know your e-mail address. Mine is 1jan1@bright.net.

Ben

I did not know that. But by original, my thought was the current structure, which I assume was built in the early to mid 60s? Back when a lot the pads had a similar look.

Ben

Media Advisory

U.S. Air Force45th Space Wing Public Affairs OfficeJuly 29, 2005

179-foot Launch Tower at Complex 13 to be Demolished with Explosives Aug. 6

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. - The mobile service tower at Complex 13 here is set to be demolished Saturday, Aug. 6 between 11:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. The tower stands some 179 feet tall and weighs approximately 1,300 tons. It will be demolished by placing and detonating 171 pounds of explosives on the tower. This is the first launch tower to be demolished here with explosives since the mobile service tower and umbilical tower at Space Launch Complex 41 on Oct. 14, 1999. About 180 pounds of explosives were used. The tower at Complex 13 is being demolished as part of an environmental clean up project. "The tower was abandoned in 1978 and hasn't been maintained since. Salt air has caused significant corrosion, causing pieces of it to fall to the ground," said Teresa Fiorillo, 45th Space Wing project officer. After the tower is removed, soil and groundwater remediation activities will begin. "The tower will appear to topple in one piece and fall to the north of its current standing location," said Ken Dinally, 45th Space Wing explosives safety manager. The debris will be cut into manageable segments, which will be hauled off and buried in a specially constructed cell at the landfill here.